Cisco Switch with LHY Power Supply
Contents
Comparing different switches or different switch power supply options is a comparison of subtleties. Anyone expecting to find a “night and day” difference with customizing a switch I must disappoint.
Introducing a decent switch in a hifi-set-up, that is a definite audible improvement. Switching one switch option for another switch option is a game of subtle changes. But subtle changes can have big effects on how you experience the music. Most Alpha Audio readers put a lot of time and effort into their HiFi system. That time and effort is not about money, but about attention. And exactly at that point of attention, at the difference between liking how something sounds and having music bring tears to your cheeks because it touches you, that’s where you can find the subtle differences a switch can bring.
Raffinement in orchestral sounds
From an iFi PowerX to the LHY linear PS is audible. In the Tindersticks track, the bass guitar sounds less diffuse and runs deeper, the voice is a bit more intelligible but has a bit less depth, and the tap on the cymbals is a bit drier and more prominent. Especially when things get busy, the horns remain distinguishable from one another. Rhythm and pacing is similar to the iFi, only the build-up feels a bit less involving. It doesn’t have as much impact.
On Morphine, the notes in the slide bass guitar are much better heard, it’s less of a mess. In the saxophone, you can clearly hear a well-known recording trick: the chorus is played in twice, which makes the sound fuller because you never play exactly the same twice.
In the Mahler recording, there is more “depth” in the orchestra. You also hear the dimensions of the concert hall better. The flute solo is beautiful, you can hear the sound of the instrument better.
In the singer’s voice, there is more air around the treble. And oddly enough, her voice sounds a little higher than with the iFi. She is singing more clearly in front of the orchestra. The words she sings are also clearer to follow. I do miss some of the depth in the voice as with the iFi, like with the Tindersticks, but when you add up the pluses and minuses, the voice is better with the LHY.
With this kind of symphonic music, the LHY LPS is clearly better than the iFi. I couldn’t turn the piece off, I wanted to keep listening. All the instruments have a more natural sound, you can hear more in the sound of each instrument.
If you owned the Grimm MU2, what switch would you consider, including associated ethernet cabling? I am leaning toward a dual LHY SW6-SFP set-up in the ethernet/fiber/ethernet configuration. I am going to through the decision making process on the MU2 and want to consider maximizing all the options.
I appreciate your help and the work you do. Thanks
A simple Netgear from our test, used with its own power supply. For a cable a standard copper Cat6 cable costing a few euros. The MU2 is quite resilient against influences from the electrical connection of the Ethernet cable.
Hans Beekhuyzen uses a Network Acoustics eno2 streaming system with the MU2, finding it one of the few devices that actually improves the sound of the MU2.
But in all truth, I would reuse whatever I own already and use right now. Why bother buying something else?
Thank you for the wise and cautious counsel.
LHY or Paul PangQuad?
850 or 2500 euro?
Hello,
question probably asked a thousand times,
I have the choice of upgrading my system with either a LHY SW-8 switch (replacing a Dlink GS105) or a set of Ricable Magnus Power+XLR cables (replacing HMS Quartetto XLR and Audioquest Z3) for headphone listening (Matrix audio mini i-4, Violectric DHA V590², Hifiman 1000SE).
Which would be the best choice for my system?
Best regard
Hello Jacques. that’s impossible to say. It depends. Let your ears make the decision.
I hav3 the LHY SW-8. And speaking with the engineers
The ocxo clock takes roughly 300 hours to fully run in
I just let music play 24-7,
2 things to mention that gave it a solid added5+% was a decent power cord ,I used the Pangea awg14 sig mk2 , and Hifi tuning supreme 1.25 amp slow blow fuse better then both the Sonore deluxe Ethernet to fiber which imo bleaches the sound
And better then the ether regen both we used a 7 v fared LPS
This is made by Ja yes Audio , streaming now is far better sounding , my brothers Innuos Ethernet switch is far better
And will get one for Xmas ,one mentiin the T+A200 dac exceptional and = or beats dacs at 2x it’s $7200 cost a great dac to look out for.